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Seligman's Happiness Exercises

After psychologist Martin Seligman started teaching what he soon came to
call "positive psychology," he began to see some remarkable results.
As he puts it, "I do not think I ever heard the word 'life-changing'
more often in my 40 years of teaching."

Two out of the three most effective happiness-inducing exercises he
tested were shown to be related to the practice of gratitude. In a
carefully-controlled scientific study, he found:

"Three exercises proved to be placebos and three worked well, producing
lasting reductions in depression and lasting increases in happiness.

The three that worked were 'three blessings' - writing down three things
that went well today and why; 'the gratitude visit' - writing a
gratitude testimonial and delivering it personally; and 'using your
signature strength in a new way' - taking the signature strength test
and using your highest strength in a new way."

Of the effect of the first exercise, he writes:

"We looked at the effect on severe depression of doing just the first web exercise, three blessings.